ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif has assured that all possible resources will be provided for completion of development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Talking to the ministers and members of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) in Gilgit on Monday, he said completion of development projects will change destiny of the people of the area.

He directed the provincial government to ensure transparency in the projects. He pointed out that there is lot of potential of tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan, which needs to be explored. He expressed satisfaction that hundreds of thousands of tourists visited the area this year.

He said this trend is encouraging, as it will motivate the foreign tourists to visit the beautiful land of Pakistan. The Prime Minister asked Gilgit-Baltistan government to focus more on the plantation of trees in the area, as it will add to the beauty of Gilgit Baltistan and attract more tourists.

He assured that security force will be deployed on the Karakorum highway from Gilgit to Mansehra for the safety of commuters and traders.

The Prime Minister said both the Chinese and Pakistani governments are working hard for speedy completion of China- Pakistan Economic Corridor project. Under this project, work on some power projects has already been started.

Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated Attabad Tunnel and new realignment of Karakoram Highway. It has been rebuilt to restore parts of the road that were submerged due to landsliding in January 2010. The seven-kilometre long five tunnels are part of twenty-four kilometre long portion of the reconstructed Highway.

Two big bridges and seventy-eight small bridges have also been constructed on it. The project will facilitate thousands of commuters of the area besides Chinese trade.